Thomas Gray, Philosopher Cat

by Philip J. Davis

Book Overview

This light, philosophical fireside tale wrapped around a mathematical problem tells the story of Thomas Gray, a cat who found herself at Cambridge University helping a historian of mathematics with... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0151881006
• ISBN13: 9780151881000
• Release Date: January 1988
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt P
• Length: 143 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.7" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Some love this world, at least the few really good bits.

Perhaps life is a bit stressful at times. This little book, with wit and pith and love, and nearly enough fine line drawings, reminds us some people survive, very nicely, thank you, for quite some time, on something a bit more sustaining than getting ahead of the Joneses, or your own Joneses, whatever. Thomas Gray is one of the greatest heroines in history. Not many know why, instinctively, but, we may learn. A pleasant read, it will give you something to remember as heroic, should you ever doubt such a thing could ever exist. These harsh times are not without precedent, but, not everyone is dead, just yet. Perhaps everyone else on your battlefield, but, please, allow one survivor to find a way beyond that noble and terrible place. They are not as rare as one might imagine. Nor as evil as one might assume. A cat may explain things we find beyond our understanding. There are moments of joy and acceptance, in this fine, if unimposing, little book. And in this imposing, if not all fine, huge world. Go see for yourself. Uh, don't bother with reading the last chapter first, it is not that sort of clever. I have not written this review to become Famous, only because this book is good. Yes, that good.

Tale of a Cambridge Cat

Philip J. Davis, the author, is Professor of Applied Mathematics at Brown University. In the mid 1980s, he was briefly a Visitor at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where his (fictional) tale is set.I recommend the book highly. It provides great insight into the traditional methods of study and reflection used within Cambridge colleges, and Thomas Gray the cat is a most engaging fulcrum who effortlessly imposes her (that's right!) personality upon the direction matters take. Philosophy, history, love and mathematics all come together in a Cambridge environment where the landscapes are as lovingly described as the abstract ideas.

charming and clever

It's a pity this is out of print, because it's a great read. Very intelligently written with an expectation that the reader is at least fairly well-versed in literature and other scholarly pursuits, it is nevertheless not at all dry or difficult to get through. A lovely story about an eccentric professor and his cat, Thomas Gray, it is an engrossing and thought-provoking read with a great touch of humour to its style. As someone who loves both books and cats, I can recommend this highly.